“We shot a lot of foul shots in practice yesterday and today, we just have to get up to the line and shoot with more confidence,” Toreros coach Lamont Smith said. “We need to focus more, get in the gym on our own and get back to making shots.”

Both teams were slow to start with USD missing six of its first seven shots and UCSB missing seven of eight, but the Gauchos were able to recover and went on a 13-4 run for a 32-25 lead at the end of the first half.

The Toreros, however, started strong in the second half, going 7-0 to erase the deficit and a free throw by Isaiah Pineiro gave USD a 35-34 lead. The Gauchos then took control of the game with a 15-4 run and never lost the lead for the rest of the game.

USD didn’t go down easy. It responded back with a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to 49-48, and that’s the closest the Toreros would get.

Olin Carter III and Isaiah Pineiro and scored 14 points each in the loss.

USD next faces New Mexico State on Wednesday in New Mexico.

Toreros Hoops: USD Drops Second in a Row in Loss to UC Santa Barbara was last modified: December 3rd, 2017 by Alexander Nguyen

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